SEARCA News

Her Excellency Dr. Catherine McIntosh, New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 12 September 2024. She was accompanied by Mr. David Pennycook, Second Secretary; Ms. Dyan Rodriguez, International Development Cooperation Manager; Mr. Jao Yabut, Policy Adviser; and Ms. Moira Uycoco, Executive Assistant to the Ambassador, all of the New Zealand Embassy Manila. The meeting focused on revisiting potential joint initiatives with the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) on climate-smart agriculture previously discussed during SEARCA's engagement with the New Zealand Embassy Manila in Los… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) made a strong case for sustainable agri-food systems at the 8th International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia Regional Conservation Forum (RCF 2024) held in this city on 3–5 September 2024. According to IUCN, the event brought together about 600 conservation leaders to assess progress and set strategic directions to effectively address environmental and biodiversity challenges over the next 20 years. Themed "Reimagining Conservation in Asia: A Nature Positive Future," RCF 2024 laid the groundwork for the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi… Read more

Committed to fostering stakeholder collaboration and promoting advancements in the agriculture sector, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) partnered with the Philippine Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) for the e-Kapehan Session on Research and Innovations in the Coconut and Corn Industries via Zoom on 29 August 2024. The event brought together researchers, innovators, and industry players to share knowledge, discuss current research findings, and explore innovative solutions to the challenges faced by two of the Philippines' most important crops—coconut and corn. In her opening message, Dr. Gerlie Tatlonghari, Program Head of SEARCA's Research… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has brought the "Sowing Seeds: Cultivating Youth's Future in Agriculture" program to Thailand. Led by SEARCA's Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI), the program introduces young people to the diverse and exciting career opportunities available in the agriculture sector. The inaugural offering of Sowing Seeds was held at Patumwan Demonstration School (PDS) in Bangkok with the participation of 20 high school students. Ms. Sirichan Daomanee, Manager of the PDS English Program for Talented Students (EPTS), and Dr. Buncha Chinnasri of Kasetsart University Faculty of Agriculture helped… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SciDev.Net, the world's leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views, and analysis on science and technology for global development. CAB International is the parent organization of SciDev.Net. The partnership aims to strengthen science and technology communication in agriculture, environment, and health across Southeast Asia. Signatories to the MOU are SEARCA Center Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio and SciDev.Net Managing Editor Ben Deighton with SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration Joselito Florendo and SciDev.Net Regional Coordinator Joel Adriano. Dr. Gregorio… Read more

Mainz, Germany — In a remarkable achievement for the Philippines, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of San Carlos (USC), Cebu City, have earned the Top 10 spot in the globally renowned Nature Awards for the Science in Shorts filmmaking competition. The recognition places the SEARCA x USC entry among the world's best, having competed against 250 submissions from international research teams. The winning entry, "Unusually sustainable - bioplastics from shrimp shells plus mango waste!", highlights a groundbreaking solution to plastic pollution, turning discarded shrimp shells and mango waste… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its banner youth engagement initiative Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI), led by Partnerships Unit (PU), organized a three-day seminar-workshop titled Winning the Future: Giving Voice to Values (GVV). This exercise in youth leadership, designed for SEARCAns aged 40 and younger, aimed to address the challenges in today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. Organized under the SEARCArunungan para sa SEARCAbataan, a series of internal dialogues by and for the SEARCA youth staff to enable knowledge exchanges, the program was put together by the Technical… Read more

The College of Bioresources and Agriculture at National Taiwan University successfully hosted the 8th UC Summer School on 6–17 August 2024. This event, co-organized with the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, or the University Consortium (UC), focused on the theme "Current Agriculture in Taiwan with A Glance of Precision Agriculture - Applications of Imagery and Modeling." The learning event brought together participants from various countries and backgrounds, offering them a unique opportunity for in-depth learning and multicultural exchange. The 12-day program witnessed the participation of 21 students from eight different countries and 11… Read more

A delegation from the Royal Thai Embassy Manila and Kasetsart University (KU), led by Mr. Rangsant Srimangkorn, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Royal Thai Embassy Manila, visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on 28 August 2024. With him were Mr. Witsarut Piyavongsomboon, First Secretary, Royal Thai Embassy Manila; Asst. Prof. Dr. Supapatpimol Simlee, Assistant to the President for International Affairs at KU, and other KU officials. Dr. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA Deputy Director for Programs, welcomed the visitors, highlighting Thailand's significant role as one of the founding member countries of the… Read more

QUEZON CITY, Philippines—The Royal Thai Embassy Manila, in collaboration with Kasetsart University (KU), the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), Philippine Department of Education, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños, co-organized the Symposium on Sufficiency Economy and Sustainable Development held on 27 August 2024 at SEAMEO INNOTECH. The event is part of the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Philippines. The symposium highlighted "Sufficiency Economy Philosophy," established by His… Read more